Hidden Love

偷偷藏不住 ‧ Drama ‧ 2023
Ongoing 10/25
akshara srija
18 people found this review helpful
Jun 26, 2023
10 of 25 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 5.5

Plot of the drama

This drama is quite a refreshing one for those who love the fantasy of elder brother's best friend and sister falling in love. Upon entering university Sang Zhi ( female protagonist) falls in love and makes sure of her feelings through her daily interactions with Duan Jiaxu (male protagonist) as they go through life's problems and solve them in their own way. Although DJ always sees SZ as a younger sister but slowly falls for her charms as time passes and discovers his inner feelings.
I personally liked the story because I like male actor and have watched all his previous works. Along with it I like their cute interactions and you can really gush over them. Overall I liked it and the story is a good one-time watch.

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Completed
Alex
4 people found this review helpful
Nov 30, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.0
Story 6.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
Tbh, I'm a fan of cheesy romcoms and this one had all the tropes I usually like from this genre, but I don't think it was as good as people out it to be?

Briefly, let me explain.
I understand how the first few episodes she views him the eyes of adoration, but his flirtatious nature was already present from the very beginning and that was really off putting to me. I know some people can have flirtatious personalities, just like he does, but to act like that towards your best friend's sister who is 5 years younger than you? When she's still a minor? Nah I'm sorry but that really threw me off. I'm not screaming pedophelia like some other people here but I still found it a bit weird.
With that being said, they really did have good chemistry. The later episodes were so sweet and they were adorable. Nothing I would say was mind-blowing, but compared to other C-dramas it was pretty good. Their acting wasn't bad, they managed to make scenes which could've been extremely cringy feel fairly natural, I was surprised. But with that being said there were still times where it felt forced. I don't blame the actors per se, more so the script itself felt unnatural. It is fiction, but it felt like a fan novel come to life at times, especially in the dialogue. That made it difficult for the actors to act convincingly 100% of the time. It would go back and forth with natural and non-natural.
Plot wise, nothing special. It's been done before, it's nothing new, they didn't add anything new to it. It made it easier to watch, yes, but I honestly had to skip through some scenes cause nothing really grasped my attention. I gave it a high rewatch value due to it fitting as a comfort show, and the music was nice.

Overall, it was a cute watch. Nothing I would say is special but I understand why people like it. It's easy to watch, they chemistry is nice, and they actors are attractive. But besides that nothing in it made it the masterpiece that some people make it out to be. We all have different opinions, so if you enjoyed it to that extent, I'm happy for you, can't relate though lmao

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Completed
div
1 people found this review helpful
Feb 4, 2025
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0

ml acting and vibes carried this show for me

chen zeyuan's acting is so good he does so little but expresses so much honestly at first i was just getting a bit uncomfy with the younger fl episode bits only cuz in most romance dramas the start is where u see those initial falling in love/heart fluttering moments but that obviously came more than a few episodes in here due to like. them meeting being when she was super young but they were soooo cute together the plot was tremendously mid but lovedddd the leads and the fl's brother bit
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Completed
Nelly
1 people found this review helpful
Dec 3, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

It weirdly works!

OVERALL
If you 1) are looking for a FL-likes-ML-first love story, 2) are into the older-guy, younger-girl trope, 3) like when FL is "innocent", and 4) can get over the fact that ML and FL meet when she' s a minor (and played by an actress who looks like she's 10), then this drama is right up your alley. If any of the above bother you...maybe still give it a try? It worked for me!

THE STORY
So, not going to lie, the premise of this drama is everything I hate. I'm really not into stories where the FL pathetically pines for the ML for 2/3 of the drama, I don't like FLs that are "innocent" (because 9/10 times, they're just childish and immature), and I'm not particularly into the older-guy/younger-girl trope. The only reason why I decided to give this drama a try is because of the controversy (it had pretty polarized reviews on YT). I wanted to see what everyone was talking about.

The main issue people had brought up is that FL starts out looking like a literal YOUNG child (definitely younger than the 14 she is supposed to be), while ML is the main actor (so adult actor), and it feels very wrong to see any scene between then two or imagine them getting together later on. Giving these comments, I was expecting something huge. But while it was off-putting, it wasn't that bad, imo. These scenes with the child actress are just a few flashbacks, and it's just FL liking ML (not the other way around), so...I just took at as a silly girl doing her thing.

I'm not going to say this is the drama of the year. The plot is very basic (almost a non-plot, revolving entirely around FL's unrequited feelings for ML...until they stop being unrequited), and the core of the story (a girl crushing over some guy for years) remains something I'm just not a fan of. But I was truly pleasantly surprised by some aspects of this show:

- First, FL is thankfully not the childish/immature type of "innocent" girl. I think the writers did a good job of giving her a bit of character, a bit of youthfulness, a bit of maturity. She feels very 3D and likeable.
- The writers also did pretty well in cutting out the pining, so FL doesn't look that obsessed with ML and her unrequited love is easier to swallow
- While I had trouble buying that FL started loving ML as a pre-teen (just looked liked admiration to me, like when girls become fans of idols), I liked how the drama shows ML finding out he likes FL and the extent to which she loves him. Overall, the relationship between the two is also very sweet and caring, and rooted in respect. It's a bit cringey sometimes, but on the good side of cringe.
- The secondary characters are all pretty cool additions to the show (which is rare, they're usually useless and annoying). I LOVED the relationship between FL and her brother, as well as FL and her parents. ML's friends were fun too!
- The ending scene is honestly the funniest innovation of a common cliché ever. I loved it!
- Finally, the overall vibes of the show are totally my style. No childish quirks or annoying music. Feels more mature and raw.

Bottom line: I didn't expect to enjoy this drama and I did, so if you're like me, just give it a try!

THE ACTING
Good, all around. I love Zhao Lusi. Nothing else to say haha ML was also pretty impressive, and it was my first time seeing him. The child actress was great too (but she did look WAY too young for the part). On the chemistry department...it was okay. Could have been better, imo, if the writing focused a bit less on FL's age and her being young.

THE MUSIC
Alright, I guess, though nothing I'd listen to on my own!

REWATCH VALUE
Oh, it's high. I've already rewatched it once (with some skipping, I won't lie, but still)!

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Completed
sanariya
1 people found this review helpful
Feb 14, 2024
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Just my thoughts on this show!!!

It was a random pick, no one recommended it to me, I watched a reel and immediately looked for it and yeah I finished all the 25 episodes plus a special so here is my honest review!!!
1. Reality / Fiction:
It's purely fiction💯, I understood how the author of original story created or made up a whole show on thought of "how it will look like if it's too good to be true"
All went well no drama indeed. it's far away from reality and only satisfies the delusions of ppl nvm!!!
2. Story:
A cliche, mediocre and typical, it's good to watch n nothing else, we can predict most of the scenes as what's happening already so.
3. Acting:
FL is such an expressive actress I really appreciate they way she played her role and ML too. Good chemistry.
4. The loop:
it's a delusional story of 'what too good to be true looks like' as I mentioned above, and the childish voice why was director okay with that. It's nice as it's fiction it can be uneasy and discomfort when we think in reality pov like
- 8th class, 14yr old girl first saw 19yr old boy, she likes him because he is good looking and then for kindness which came next after!!!🤓 idk it's her thoughts so idk
- 11th grade, 17yr girl crushing on 22yr guy, okay girl teenage phase can understand, she flew ✈️ to see him as she overheard a rumour like okay!!!
-1st year, 18yr old girl meeting 24yr guy and after being taken care of indeed he should fall for her right like on snowy day!!!🫡
-19yr old girl, her birthday, he is 25yr and it all started like nice, good for them it's fiction
after graduation 👇
-22 her and 27yr him, proposed right away like bro 😄, okay okay marry younger is what writer is telling and settling in life by that age. such delusions.
.
The story is so sweet like good roomates, no exs bs, good parents, good everything and story of ml idk it's unsettling even as fiction. idk why I watched but went on coz I'm bored.
.
Well age is just a number and maturity comes with experiences then idgaf with drama logic because its a pure delulu story. wake up to really pals!!!
.
overall, Looks good only to watch and nothing great or impactful drama so, 8.5 star for ost and for crew who worked on this drama, it's my personal opinion so nvm!!!
.
have a great day 💚

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Completed
lilytree
1 people found this review helpful
Mar 3, 2024
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.5
This review may contain spoilers

Suggest you start at episode 8

I overall liked this drama, but I hated how young they had the youngest Sang Zhi look. There was too much time taken for the scenes where they were younger and I have a fondness for age-gap stories, provided they don't creep me out. (so for me, historical is better than modern, the older the characters, the more comfortable I am in general.) And the eventual love story that occurs doesn't creep me out, but some of those early episodes would make me feel uncomfortable in a couple places, knowing where it was going.

So, when I rewatched, I just skipped those first 8 eps and there were enough flashbacks to tell the story well enough, IMO, and then I still knew she's had a crush on him for forever, but I didn't feel like he was being creepy at all. (I know he's clueless when she's young, but because I "know the future", it can just be looked at in an ugly lens.)

Past ep 8, it's a heartwarming love story, with many of the familiar tropes. But I do like that her mom gets to be nice to her in this one! LOL

Overall, confirms my enjoyment of Zhao Lusi and adds Chen Zhe Yuan to a list of preferred actors.

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Completed
Zhouyiransfan
1 people found this review helpful
Jun 11, 2024
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 6.5
Rewatch Value 7.5

You'll need a lot of tissues ??

Such an amazing drama, really recommend you watch it.Zhao lusi and Chen zheyuan have such good chemistry in the bts. such an emotional drama too. lovely, overall tbh. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🫶❤️🫶❤️🫶🫶❤️🫶❤️😭❤️😭🥹😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️😭😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️❤️😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️❤️❤️❤️😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️🫶❤️🫶🥹🫶🥹🫶🫶🥹🫶🥹🫶🥹🫶🥹🫶🥹🫶🥹🫶🥹😭❤️🫶❤️🫶❤️🫶❤️🫶❤️🫶❤️😭❤️❤️🫶❤️🫶🫶❤️🫶😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️🫶❤️🫶❤️🫶❤️🫶❤️😭❤️😭❤️🫶❤️🫶❤️🫶🥹🫶🥹🫶🥹🫶🥹🫶🫶🥹🫶🥹🫶🥹🫶❤️🫶🫶❤️🫶❤️🫶🫶If your still reading this then love you so much!!!!!!!!!!

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Completed
joy
1 people found this review helpful
Jul 14, 2024
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 7.0

“the distance between us was only five years, but you’re worth the time”

This film is such a youthful and light watch! I absolutely adore the aesthetic and the casting was truly incredible. I held off this film, but I’m glad I finished it as it made me feel butterflies and nostalgia for a happy ending. I like that the ml waited for her and though he might’ve not knew it at the time, he always WANTED to be there for her and see her grow through the years of adolescence. No matter what role, he wanted to be there in her life. He also said that he wanted to be her boyfriend, not he wanted her to be his girlfriend and I start to crumble whenever the ml says that (its the little things that count 😭).

Overall would recommend for if you want a feel-good cdrama. Though there were many obstacles, they always found their way back to each other, so if you want a happy ending and “always meant to be” genre, it’s perfect for you!

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Completed
ateznoeul7
1 people found this review helpful
Dec 10, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 6.0

very simple but super adorable

I should start by saying that i usually enjoy dramas with more thrill or supernatural tropes, but i was still really hooked by this.

This drama was about growing up, falling in love, and life in general and the hardships that come with it. The stages and problems that come with adolecence were captured really well.
Its important to note, that this was a slow burn.

The cast was great! I watched a few of Zhao Lu si's dramas and really adore her acting. She tends to have great chemistry with everyone but her and Chen Zhe Yuans chemistry was unreal!! They looked so in love and their kisses were great!

The drama showed Sang Zhi at very different ages and her styling was always very suitable: the hair, clothes, shoes and phone cases really reflected her age well in my opinion. Same for Jia Xu, but it wasnt as noticable.

Next, about the characters:
- Sang Zhi is very kind, creative, pretty, caring and hard working. She is not perfect and gets protected by Jia Xu but she still stands up for herself and can deal with her problems on her own.
Especially in Cdrama, the female characters tend to be weak and always need their ML to save them so i was really positively surprised by how strong and independent she was.
She was very popular in school but only had two suiters that we know about and they did not trouble her after she rejected them.
The only thing i did not like about Sang Zhi was how soft and 'babyish' her voice was even when she was an adult. It was just a little unsuitable for a strong girl like her in my opinion.

- Jia Xu is a very nice, supportive, hard working, handsome and determined character. He has trouble concerning his family and is financially not well of. He is very skilled and smart but not to the point were he gets annoyingly perfect.
especially the male leads in Cdramas are often emotionless and can do everything perfectly, but he is not like that and i love it!
Moreover, whenever he appears the girls in the back often whisper "handsome" but not 1596 girls have a crush on him at the same time and are annoying and hate Sang Zhi. There is one girl, that troubles him and Sang Zhi because of her feelings but there is also more to it than just attaction and jealousy.

- San Yan and his parents. I always loved seeing them. The whole family was so cute and supportive. They bickered, supported and worried about each other. that was great to see.


This Drama showed a really cute, wholesome, nice and helathy relationship. He asked for concent before holding her hand and kissing her, there was no gaslighting, no frustrating miscommunication, just love.

Sang Zhis relationship with her dorm mates was also really beautifully shown. No jealous friends or anything like that.
Jia Xu and his work-colleagues were also very cute and him and his college friends had nice and realistic friendhips! (i also liked that the plump character Qian Fei got married)

The music was alright. Nothing great or emotional but it fit the vibe well.

Even though i'm glad that there were no unnecessary conflicts, there was also some drama missing, every problem got resolved after a few episodes and that made the drama alittle flat or boring at times. also the timeline was not always easy to follow. One time i thought i missed an episode because it started with a random scene.

All in all, it was a very cute drama, that showed a more realistic, mature, simple and happy relationship. At times it was a little boring if you like dramas with more action.
I can't picture myself rewatching it anytime soon, but i did enjoy it so maybe i will in the future.

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Completed
Vp9
5 people found this review helpful
Aug 5, 2023
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 6.0
Story 5.5
Acting/Cast 6.0
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

Another drama like this

Did anyone watched My Unicorn Girl drama?? i want to watch this drama again for the first time 😭❤️ guys even if you have not watched cdramas ever in your life ,you DEFINITELY should watch this one , its a MAGICAL drama. I saw a reel on insta about this drama another day i go to youtube searched and watched it continuously..i didn't feel bored at all also I don't feel like to stop seeing even for sec ,i completed all 24 episodes...i literally cried for more than a week bcoz i want to watch more. I was laughing like hell for all the time while watching (it has happy ending) i miss this drama everyday, storyline , acting, expressions,comic time EVERYTHING IS ON HIGH LEVEL , I always regret why i didn't watch this before.😢😢❤

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Completed
thetexilator
2 people found this review helpful
Dec 8, 2024
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

Trust me you are gonna love this....

This drama stands as one of the best C-dramas I have had the pleasure of watching. Its approach to the story is incredibly realistic, presenting a plot that feels entirely plausible, making it both engaging and grounded in reality. The overall tone of the series is comfortable, with no toxic dynamics, which makes for a refreshing viewing experience.

The unfolding of the story is remarkably pleasant, and the character development is something I truly appreciated. However, I do feel that more attention could have been given to the male lead’s family background, which would have added another layer of depth to his character.

As for the second half of the drama, opinions may vary. Some viewers might find it slightly stretched or feel that it doesn't hold the same charm as the earlier episodes. Despite this, the drama remains thoroughly enjoyable and is certainly worth watching.

The casting is spot-on, particularly the portrayal of the main lead, which is crucial to the series' success. Additionally, the sibling dynamics in the story were beautifully executed, adding warmth and emotional depth.

Trust me when I say this drama is so good that I’m already planning to rewatch it.

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Completed
netfelix
2 people found this review helpful
Dec 3, 2024
25 of 25 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 6.5
This review may contain spoilers
At first, I initially dropped this because I was getting annoyed by her voice as her younger version , but after watching The Romance of Tiger and Rose, I really came to like Zhao Lusi and her acting, so I decided to rewatch this from the start. I also think that this drama could be viewed wrongly, especially as the actress who played young Sangzhi was most likely about 9/10 years old at the time of filming. In adulthood I believe 5 years age difference is not bad, but considering that they knew each other when Sangzhi was in middle school it can be misinterpreted even though they started the romance after she was an adult. Sangzhi's crush was cute and I think the drama portrayed it well but after they started dating it did start to become dragging. I personally think they should have ended it at 20 episodes because the final 5 episodes kind of dragged a bit, if it didn't drag so much in the final 5, I most likely would have given this drama an 8.5 or 9. Also, Sang Yan kept saying he had a girlfriend, I know there is a spin-off series regarding this but in my opinion I would have preferred it if Sang Yan and Yuxin got together and met online while playing games, I was expecting this to happen and it never did. Victor Ma/Sang Yan was my most favourite character in this series. I really loved Victor Ma in this drama and also his OST "Be Your Light", I had it on replay so much.

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Hidden Love poster

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Statistics

  • Score: 9.0 (scored by 72,977 users)
  • Ranked: #65
  • Popularity: #58
  • Watchers: 128,372

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